Beer, Braai and Bake day

We had a fabulous Heritage Day public holiday yesterday making it to the Shongweni Farmers' Market as it opened for our breakfast beers at the new Standeaven Brewery, then followed it up with a braai at the guesthouse with our mates. It was also a chance to practice my Mediterranean scones, which I picked up at the cooking class I did last week. They came out ok, although the guesthouse oven did not seem to achieve full heat and they could have cooked quicker and risen better. Great day though and best mates!!

Brewmaster Sean Standeaven shows us how it's done

Dave enjoys a "pint" of the good stuff

Biltong production

 

 

Our family friends, the Jeacocks, make the best biltong in Durban, but it's like gold getting your hands on some from their factory which supplies a range of outlets throughout the Province. So armed with a birthday present of a little home kit, I resumed production again today. I used to make biltong years ago in a home-made box, but gave up after a bad batch and the smell that permeated the garage. So here goes again. Looking forward to eating what must be my favourite snack.

 

Engineering thesis

My son Mark's final year Engineering thesis at Stellenbosch University involves the investigation of alternative methods to reduce the vibrations and noise from trains. Here we fool around with some material designed to go between the track and the sleepers with impact/dampening characteristics.

 

Weekend fun

Margaritas with mates and a night flight to Margate on Saturday was what we got up to for the weekend. Got stranded in Margate though due to an electrical fault and we needed the Airplane Factory to help us out on Sunday before flying home.

 

Night rating and PPL Certificate

Thanks to The Wings Club for the presentation of my PPL and Night Rating Certificate awarded last week at their periodic Achievements Award Evening. I got my PPL licence last April and my Night rating earlier this year. 

Mark home for short holiday

It's great to have both of my kids together, Mark here for his last holiday before finishing his engineering degree at Stellenbosch. He's off on Friday back to the Cape for the final term.